Nir Barkat Hires Private Investigators to Monitor Likud Primary Voting Amid Fraud Fears

Ahead of the Likud party primaries on August 17, 2026, Economy Minister Nir Barkat has engaged a private investigation and intelligence firm to oversee the voting and vote counting processes. Barkat, accused of attempting a political coup against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the events of October 7, fears ongoing attempts within the party to undermine his standing by manipulating vote totals or election outcomes.

Concerned that his political elimination is not over, Barkat has established an independent monitoring operation to run alongside Likud's official mechanisms. This includes deploying undercover operatives at numerous polling stations nationwide, with special focus on the central counting center where vote tallies converge. Some operatives are equipped with documentation tools to gather real-time evidence of any suspected fraud, bias, or irregularities during the count.

Sources close to Barkat emphasize that the goal extends beyond identifying and correcting anomalies during the primaries. Should evidence of wrongdoing surface, Barkat intends to hand over findings to the appropriate authorities and demand accountability for those responsible. A party insider stated, "Anyone who thinks they can tamper with votes, the count, or results should know that this time there are eyes watching, documenting, and verifying. If illegal acts are uncovered, the aim is not only to fix the results but also to ensure those responsible face consequences."